After Action Reports 440th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
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S E C R E T S E C R E T inhabitants either peeping fearfully from windows or standing on the street with their hands raised as we went by. In some places along the route German soldiers who were still armed were streaming in from the woods and hills to join the steady stream of their weary and beaten comrades heading for the Prisoners of War cage in the rear, but as the column was moving so rapidly and we were already behind them we could not stop even long enough to disarm them but had to leave this for our infantry troops following us up in the rear. We received the joyous shouts of many hundreds of Poles, Russians and French prisoners of war who had been held by the Germans and who we had released. We passed several 88mm AT guns implaced in position along the road, ammunition stock behind them and ready for action but whose war-weary gun crews had dropped their equipment and rifles beside them and joined the unending stream of prisoners without firing a shot. Occasionally there would be a few dead Germans who had been stupid enough to attempt to resist. A few houses were burning but the vast majority were untouched and the window panes still intact. One large motor pool hidden in a woods was passed with the motor in one truck still running. Here we destroyed four 88mm guns to prevent their possible reuse before the infantry could arrive. Along the road there were countless horse-drawn vehicles with some horses dead and others patiently standing in their traces. Abandoned motor vehicles were too numerous to count. Some American peeps and 6x6's captured in the Ardennes were also along the side of the road, their white stars still plainly showing an eloquent and silent symbol of the defeat of Germany's striking power which had once been strong enough to take these vehicles from us. It is no longer five minutes to twelve for Germany but instead the minute hand is but a second from striking twelve. The Germans who for so long watched the prisoners from other countries stream along the roads utterly crushed and broken are now playing this role themselves. There no longer can be any doubt that Germany has lost the second World War. We have already passed through their hospitall zone and there are only isolated units in our path. We arrived at Obertiefenbaeh at 1400 and as this was the objective of Task Force Brown for the day, outposted the town, and prepared for a short halt until further instructions were received. Our unit took control and with Capt. Bourgeois at the helm of a temporary military government, the PW cage was set up. Houses were searched and civilian problems were ironed out. The first official count of PW's in our cage totaled 13 officers and 296 enlisted men but after that prisoners came in so fast and other units evacuated them so that an accurate count was impossible to maintain. Early the next morning orders were received that we would leave at noon, so destruction of five vehicles in running order, one passenger bus, a stock of 210mm ammunition, a small stock of deisel oil, two half-tracks and two large prime movers and one 320mm gun were ordered destroyed and necessary demolition carried out by this battalion in order to prevent possible reuse by soldiers who had not yet surrendered and were hiding in the hills. 13. Today (27 March) at 1230 we moved out again following the route from Obertiefenbach, Steinbach, Ellar, Neunkirchen, Elsoff, Mengerskirshen, Arborn, Odersberg, Rodenroth, Holzhausen, Katzenfurt whore we paused for several hours. On this march there was almost no opposition and few vehicles along the road. About 15 were destroyed by us as we passed them. We arrive at Katzenfurt at 2000 hours, slept for a few hours and at 0100 on the 28th moved out through the towns of Kolschhausen, Niederlemp, Oberlemp, Bermoll, Altenstadten, Erda, Frankenbach, Kirchvers, Oberwalgern, Fronhausen to Belnhausen where we remained overnight. The batteries set up to fire and -5- S E C R E T expended 62 rounds in registration and in firing on a column of vehicles spotted by our air observer. Enroute one horse-drawn 150mm gun was destroyed along with five vehicles. A good night's sleep, muchly needed by all was enjoyed here and at 0630 on the morning of 29th March we moved out along the route to Hachborn, Ebsdorf, Haskem, Wittelsberg and into Rossdorf where we arrived at 0800. A CP was set up and the battalion registered. Again Capt. Bourgeois took control of the civilian population by appointing a burgermeister, calling in weapons and publishing a military government proclamation. Our troops have met resistance at Kirchhain and we are supporting their attack. We are opposing a battalion of the 416th Infantry Training Division which had arrived in Kirchhain last night by train from Denmark. It is their first action and they have no heavy weapons support and most opposition is from small arms and bazookas. We fired 682 rounds on the town and camouflaged vehicles and our air observer annihilated a company of infantry he caught in the open just outside of town. We suffered one casualty in our "B" Battery forward observer section outside the town. Our battalion captured 13 prisoners in Rostoff who were hiding in the houses and some 800 wounded soldiers who were hospitalized there. At 1700, two Jerry planes tried to knock our cubs out of the air and also dropped AP bombs nearby. No one was hurt, our fifties failed to knock down any planes but several holes were shot in the cubs gas tank and his wings. The holes in the gas tanks were plugged with chewing gun and our air force took to the air without further ado. The skill of Lt. Graff who was piloting the cub made it impossible for the faster plane to get it. As resistance had almost ceased in Kirchhain we left Rossdorf at 1900 and moved to Schonstadt by way of Kleinseelheim, Grossseelheim, Schonbach, Anzejahr, Betziesdorf. We spent the night here. 14. At the crack of dawn which is very early now, being around 0530 we hit the road again and went through the towns of Schwarzenborn, Bracht, Rosenthal, Haubern, Frankenau, Frebershausen, Gehershausen to Neu Bringhausen near the shores of the beautiful Ederstau-See. This is our objective and our combat command has captured the bridges and dam intact. Just outside of Neu Bringhausen an event occurred which made all ranks of this battalion extremely proud of the teamwork and efficient operation of our air and ground observers. Lt. Graff (Air observer) spotted three 88mm flak guns and three 40mm flak guns near the road just ahead of our approaching panzer column. He immediately radioed Lt. Odens (our tank observer) who transmitted this information to the lead tank commander who halted his column before they came in sight of the deadly flak guns. The flak guns had ceased trailing the cub and were now lowering their tubes to meet the more immediate threat of our panzers approaching them. Lt. Graff asked "C" Btry with the advanced guard and commanded by Capt. Farrell to go into position. Capt. Farrell immediately went into position by the road and within two minutes his first round in adjustment was on the way. This action was so rapid that the tankers later admitted that they thought it was Jerry artillery coming in. After a two round adjustment the battery, was brought in and the 88's destroyed. The fire was then immediately shifted to the 40mm flak positions. Time fire was used with devastating effect. The ammunition in the gun pits exploded and the crews killed and burned to death by the explosion. The other German troops were either killed by time fire or immediately surrendered. From the time they were first spotted until 3 88's and 3 40's were destroyed a little under 10 minutes had elapsed. The efficiency and power of a well-trained artillery -6- S E C R E T battalion is truly terrifying to behold. 15. The last day of this month found us eager and anxious to push forward aggressively and hasten the defeat of Germany. We remained this day in NeuBringhausen preparing to be in on the collapse which must soon come to Adolf Hitler's Reich. By order of Lt. Col. HART: (signed) ROBERT L. FREELAND 1st Lt, 440th Armd FA Bn Unit Historian -7-
440th Armored Field Artillery Battalion APO 257, U. S. Army 1 May 1945. SUBJECT: After Action Report for the Month of April 1945. TO : The Adjutant General, Washington, 25, D. C. (Thru Channels) l. This month was a very notable one for this battalion. It opened while the battalion was still at Neu Bringhausen. We had assumed the responsibility of the Military Government of this area. The civilians seemed to be rather cooperative but then it may be assumed that this cooperativeness was instilled in them by the sight of our guns. All of them said that they were glad to be out of the war. During the course of the day we took 21 German soldiers prisoners who came out of the woods and surrendered. All of the prisoners were shabby and seedy looking and represented numerous different organizations which had been overrun by our swift drive. 2. On the 2 April seven more PW's were taken; most of them were extremely hungry and this was probably a deciding factor in their coming in from the forest to surrender. At 1900 we were alerted for a movement in the morning. The major portion of the day was spent in cleaning equipment and in taking care of administrative details. 3. Breakfast was served at 0500 on the morning of the 3rd, vehicles were loaded, and at 0650 the battalion moved out for Frankenau, arriving there exactly one hour later. Along the route two very wet, cold, and hungry Luftwaffe soldiers surrendered to the lead vehicle and they were incarcerated in the PW cage at Frankenau on our arrival. The CP was set up in town but we did no firing. We spent the night here and at 0900 on the 4th we moved out again. We travelled through the towns of Altenlotheim, Schmittletheim, Kirchlatheim, Herzhausen, Buchenberg, Niederoke, Sacksenberg, Dalwigsthal, Munden, Medelan to reach Hesborn at 1200. It became evident that another movement would soon be necessary so we set up a CP with only the bare essentials leaving the rest of the equipment loaded in the half-tracks. We are now in support of the 3rd Battalion, 395th Regiment, 99th Infantry Division plus the 38th AIB. The 400th Armd F. A. Bn (105 How SP) is attached to us to reinforce our fires and we are also in general support of the 434th Armd FA Bn. We left Hesborn at 1900 hours and travelled through Liesen, Zuschen, Mollseifen, Neu Astenberg, to reach Lingewiesse at 2300 hours. Although our route of march was only 10 miles long this move took us four hours due to extreme darkness and intermittent showers. We set up to fire immediately as position area survey had previously been completed by Lt. Fonvielle and his section. 4. At 0110 on the 5 April we began firing harassing missions and continued them until daylight. At daylight we fired upon targets of opportunity as called for by our liaison air aircraft and our observers with the 38th Armd Infantry Bn. Resistance ahead seems to have stiffened -1- S E C R E T S E C R E T a bit and our drive is slowed down somewhat. Some of the men express a desire that we should be driving along with the 2nd Armored Division towards Berlin, instead of reducing the Ruhr pocket but it has been explained to them that this is a necessary operation and will in no way detract from the glory of the 7th Armored Division. This date the battalion expended 648 rounds in 35 missions. 5. On the 6 April, having fired harassing missions during the night, we expended 1140 rounds in 37 missions as called for by our observers and in TOT's requested by Div Arty. The weather was extremely inclement with heavy fog in the morning and a driving rain most of the afternoon. As usual in weather conditions such as this our two cub planes were grounded, and we were deprived of our eyes in the air, a loss which we feel dreadfully. Our forward elements are pushing ahead aggressively and this rapid action on their part dictates that the battalion will shortly displace forward. As a result an advance party was sent forward to Oberkirchen to set up a CP and reserve billets for the command. Jerry made several small counterattacks today but as usual these were broken up before they made any gains by our TOT's and devastating barrages of time fire. 6. Rising at 0600 for a delicious breakfast at 0615 we were all overjoyed to see the air clear and a bright sun making its appearance over the beautiful green hillsides. In order to get in a good day's shooting we moved out at 0730 to the next town which was oberkirchen, and our Cubs immediately began a registration. It was possible to accomplish this in better time than usual as the advance party yesterday had already laid the necessary wire and set up a CP. During the day our planes were able to pick up severial targets of opportunity, as also our ground observers were able to do. We fired 52 missions expending 853 rounds in support of the 38th AIB and Div Arty. The Boshe in a very small way by tossing in a few scattered and completely ineffective rounds of 105mm from what was apparently a battery of 105 guns. Four men were slightly wounded although only one had to be evacuated. 7. On the 8th of April, having fired 11 harassing missions during the night we expended 989 rounds on 17 targets of opportunity, one preparation, three registration, four defensive, and two smoke missions. Early this morning vie learned that Lt. Odens' tank had been knocked out the night before by one of our own TD's but luckily no one was hurt. We have been very fortunate in this respect for although we have had four tanks knocked out only one man has been wounded. In the afternoon the Germans threw a few more rounds into our area inflicting three more casualties, two of whom were evacuated. Lt. Harmon was shot through the wrist in Fredeburg at 1600 while serving as FO with the 38th AIB. The 40th Tank Bn., working with the 38th AIB, attacked at 1200 today. A German vehicle complete with radio, telephones, and other communication equipment was captured intact with two Jerries on a hill near our position and it is believed that these men had called for the fire that we received in this area, as after their capture no more shelling was received. -2- S E C R E T S E C R E T 8. On the 9th of April we did an unusual amount of firing, expending 2021 rounds on 75 missions in support of CCR. Early in the morning reconnaissance for new positions was made and battery commanders went forward. At 1320 following our usual SOP assistant S-3 and S-2 together with the second string of computers and the wire section went forward to establish a CP. "C" Battery displaced forward and a registration was begun immediately. The remainder of the battalion moved up at 1400. Our CP is now in Holzhausen. At 1640 "C" Battery had some trouble. A round in the chamber failed to go off and as the men attempted to remove it the powder in the shell case exploded, severely burning two men and injuring two others. Shortly after the registration of the battalion had been completed, Lt. Graff, air observer, spotted three Jerry tanks attempting to withdraw. Fire was immediately brought upon them but the tanks immediately took violent evasive action to escape the artillery falling on them. Lt. Graff continued to chase them and was finally able to destroy all three of them. More than 200 rounds were expended on this mission but the results obtained certainly justified this expenditure. Our guns were extremely active all day as it seems that all of our observers had targets they wished to shoot on and during the night there were the usual harassing fires. At 1200 today, the 100,000th round this battalion has fired since arriving on the continent was sent on its way as our gift to the Jerries but no special ceremony marked this occasion as everyone was too busy. 9. On the 10th of April we fired 30 missions, expending 1044 rounds in support of CCR. Our troops are pushing ahead fairly rapidly; towns are usually the only points defended and then normally after a short fight, the Germans either surrender or retreat. Some towns are undefended and others are bitterly fought for. At 1100 hours the necessary personnel was sent out to establish the forward CP and FDC. "A" Battery also moved forward to register. The route was through Fredeburg to Henninghausen. After "A" Battery had completed registration it commenced firing on targets as called for while "B" and "C" Batteries displaced forward and were quickly registered. Several missions were fired but the Jerries were rapidly withdrawing out of range, which naturally necessitated another movement. Three prisoners, one a sergeant in civilian clothing were apprehended in this area. At 1730 the advance party again moved out to establish a forward CP in Darlar. The rest of the battalion moved out shortly thereafter and closed into position at 2030. Defensive fires were planned and harassing missions were begun. The 400th Armored F. A. Bn is still reinforcing our fires and maintains a liaison officer with us. As no military government had been set up in this town, the task was immediately assumed by the S-2 section; suspicious persons were screened by T/Sgt. Zwirner - a fluent and very efficient German speaker- weapons were collected and AMG proclamations posted. It was also necessary to take care of some Russian slave workers who had been freed. 10. On the 11 April at 0945 the advance party left to establish a forward CP in Bremke, C Battery displacing forward to register, and arriving at Bremke at 1004. The rest of the battalion arrived at 1145. After registration had been completed fires were placed with excellent effect upon various targets which included vehicles, personnel, and 20mm flak guns as called for by our forward observers. Our attack is -3-
S E C R E T S E C R E T is progressing rapidly and at 1400 we left Bremke and passed through Sollinghausen to arrive at Wentholzhausen where we went into position for the night. Registration was completed, a few targets of opportunity were fired upon, and defensive fires were planned for the night. The weather has been very good lately and we have had a plane in the air during practically all of the daylight hours. During the night the usual harassing fires were delivered upon the Germans. It is interesting to note that when prisoners are questioned always state that they particularly dislike our night artillery fires, particularly TOT's which are extremely hard on their nerves. 11. On the 12 April at 0900 we left Wentholzhausen and passed through Wathmecke, Grenerstein, Altenhellefeld, Hellefeld, Linnepe, Weninghausen enroute to Endorf where we went into firing positions and registered. The town had just been taken by our forward elements and houses and vehicles were burning in what resembled a vast funeral pyre. It seems that the Nazis are determined to drag all of Germany and as much of the rest of the world as they can down with them. It is truly an Operation Gottersdammerung. During last night and our stay at Endorf the battalion fired 19 missions composed of 10 harassing, 6 targets of opportunity, three registrations, and expended 740 rounds. At 1815 we left Endorf and proceeded to Affeln following the route Bonkhausen, Dornholthausen, Allendorf, Huttenbrucken and Altenaffeln. All along this route were burning vehicles with the ammunition in them still exploding. Houses which the Jerries had used and fought for were burning brightly. Prisoners of all ranks with hands raised overhead and clutching white flags were streaming by our moving column by the hundreds. Some women were among those leaving for the PW cages. We were traveling too fast to bother with them or search them and simply waved them on to the rear. It was a sight reminiscent of the first days of our breakthrough after crossing the Rhine. We arrived at Affeln at 2030 and immediately established our FDC. Prisoners began to pour in and surrender to us and it was necessary to set up our own PW cage. "C" Battery received the surrender of 100 men and four officers from a flak battalion which three days ago had been ordered to fight as infantry. All of these soldiers were well fed, had numerous cigarettes, and each carried several tins of very excellent Norwegian or Portugese sardines. Two large barns were used for the more than 300 enlisted men and a separate room for 15 officers. It was midnight before they could all be searched and processed. 12. On the 13th of April at the crack of dawn more Germans came in to give up. At 0730 we turned in more than 400 prisoners over to "D" company of the 40th Tank Battalion to be escorted to the rear. At 1000 hours a lieutenant from the 87th Reconnaissance Squadron came to the CP and said that there was a major in command of a battalion in the woods near here who would surrender his entire command to an officer of equal or higher rank. Major Levison accompanied the Reconnaissance officer back and accepted the surrender of the German major, a captain eighteen other officers and their entire battalion of 356 men and 56 vehicles. It was a quartermaster battalion; the men broke their rifles climbed into their own vehicles and happily drove away led by the Reconnaissance officer to a PW cage. Each man was equipped with a bottle of good cognac to buck him up during these trying times. During the past -4- S E C R E T S E C R E T two months this battalion has taken more than 1300 prisoners, a record we are justly proud of. Military government proclamations were posted and at 1030 hours the battalion left Affeln and passed through Blindrop, Langeholthausen to arrive at Balve where we went into firing positions to support our attack on Hemer. The 400th is still reinforcing our fires and Commando, a 155mm Howitzer outfit is in general support. At 1440 the Germans counterattacked with tanks in the vicinity of the town of Neunrade. The counterattack was successfully stopped by our combined fires with tremendous casualties inflicted upon the enemy. We fired 498 rounds today, on the counterattack, registration, and on targets picked up by our ground observers. The weather was foul and our aircraft were grounded. 13. The 14th of April dawned bright and clear and our Cubs were soon able to take to the air and begin their search for the Boche. They were successful in their hunt and today we fired 22 missions, expending 683 rounds on missions that they called for and also on targets spotted by our ever alert forward observers. During the day a two gun Jerry battery--the sound of their guns was clearly audible--heckled us but as usual their fire was completely ineffective. The civilians in town seemed somewhat perturbed as several of them were killed by their own artillery fire. A torrent of curses directed against the Wehrmacht readily poured from their lips as you pointed to one of their wrecked houses and them it was German artillery. A displacement forward was soon dictated by the speed with which our tank and infantry columns were moving forward; therefore at 1810 we left Balve and followed the route Helle, Sansoucci, Volkringshausen, Binalen, Klusenstein, Hannethal to our new position at Brockhausen. We arrived there at 1915 hours. It was too late to register but due to the excellent survey performed by Lt. Chris E. Fonvielle and his crew we were again able to deliver our extremely accurate fires in a matter of minutes. We fired our usual prepared fires and missions of harassment during the night. Service Battery upon pulling out of Balve received a rather heavy concentration of enemy artillery fire but fortunately no damage to our equipment or personnel resulted, although the building in which the battery CP was located was virtually demolished. In our new position at Brockhausen, there were many of the liberated Russian slave laborers. Many were in very poor condition not having been fed for a week. At the airfield nearby we carried out demolitions which destroyed three 37mm flak guns. Directory: docrep docrep -> After Action Reports and 1943 Unit History 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) docrep -> After Action Reports of Combat Command “A” 7th Armored Division August 1944 August 1945 docrep -> After Action Reports of the 434th Armored Field Artillery Battalion docrep -> 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion (7th Armored Division) docrep -> Memoir of Ronald Croft (531st & 551st Quartermaster Groups Graves Registration) docrep -> Subject line: I’d like to attend susecon this year and here are the benefits it brings us Download 257.56 Kb. Share with your friends:
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